the riverman-第3章

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was　too　wide　to　jump；　they　propelled　a　log　over　either　by　rolling　

it；　paddling　it；　or　projecting　it　by　the　shock　of　a　leap　on　one　end。　　

In　accomplishing　these　feats　of　tight…rope　balance；　they　stood　

upright　and　graceful；　quite　unconscious　of　themselves；　their　bodies　

accustomed　by　long　habit　to　nice　and　instant　obedience　to　the　almost　

unconscious　impulses　of　the　brain。　　Only　their　eyes；　intent；　

preoccupied；　blazed　out　by　sheer　will…power　the　unstable　path　their　

owners　should　follow。　　Once　at　the　forefront　of　the　drive；　the　men　

began　vigorously　to　urge　the　logs　forward。　　This　they　accomplished　

almost　entirely　by　main　strength；　for　the　sluggish　current　gave　them　

little　aid。　　Under　the　pressure　of　their　feet　as　they　pushed　against　

their　implements；　the　logs　dipped；　rolled；　and　plunged。　　

Nevertheless；　they　worked　as　surely　from　the　decks　of　these　unstable　

craft　as　from　the　solid　earth　itself。



In　this　manner　the　logs　in　the　centre　of　the　pond　were　urged　forward　

until；　above　the　chute；　they　caught　the　slightly　accelerated　current　

which　should　bring　them　down　to　the　pike…pole　men　at　the　dam。　　

Immediately；　when　this　stronger　influence　was　felt；　the　drivers　

zigzagged　back　up　stream　to　start　a　fresh　batch。　　In　the　meantime　a　

great　many　logs　drifted　away　to　right　and　left　into　stagnant　water；　

where　they　lay　absolutely　motionless。　　The　moving　of　them　was　

deferred　for　the　〃sacking　crew；〃　which　would　bring　up　the　rear。



Jack　Orde　wandered　back　and　forth　over　the　work；　his　hands　clasped　

behind　his　back；　a　short　pipe　clenched　between　his　teeth。　　To　the　

edge　of　the　drive　he　rode　the　logs；　then　took　to　the　bank　and　

strolled　down　to　the　dam。　　There　he　stood　for　a　moment　gazing　

aimlessly　at　the　water　making　over　the　apron；　after　which　he　

returned　to　the　work。　　No　cloud　obscured　the　serene　good…nature　of　

his　face。　　Meeting　Tom　North's　troubled　glance；　he　grinned　broadly。



〃Told　you　we'd　have　Johnson　on　our　necks；〃　he　remarked；　jerking　his　

thumb　up　river　toward　a　rapidly　approaching　figure。



This　soon　defined　itself　as　a　tall；　sun…reddened；　very　blond　

individual　with　a　choleric　blue　eye。



〃What　in　hell's　the　matter　here？〃　he　yelled；　as　soon　as　he　came　

within　hearing　distance。



Orde　made　no　reply；　but　stood　contemplating　the　newcomer　with　a　

flicker　of　amusement。



〃What　in　hell's　the　matter？〃　repeated　the　latter　violently。



〃Better　go　there　and　inquire；〃　rejoined　Orde　drolly。　　〃What　ails　

you；　Johnson？〃



〃We're　right　at　your　rear；〃　cried　the　other；　〃　and　you　ain't　even　

made　a　start　gettin'　through　this　dam！　　We'll　lose　the　water　next！　　

Why　in　hell　ain't　you　through　and　gone？〃



〃Keep　your　shirt　on；〃　advised　Orde。　　〃We're　getting　through　as　fast　

as　we　can。　　If　you　want　these　logs　pushed　any　faster；　come　down　and　

do　it　yourself。〃



Johnson　vouchsafed　no　reply；　but　splashed　away　over　the　logs；　

examining　in　detail　the　progress　of　the　work。　　After　a　little　he　

returned　within　hailing　distance。



〃If　you　can't　get　out　logs；　why　do　you　take　the　job？〃　he　roared；　

with　a　string　of　oaths。　　〃If　you　hang　my　drive；　damn　you；　you'll　

catch　it　for　damages！　　It's　gettin'　to　a　purty　pass　when　any　old　

highbanker　from　anywheres　can　get　out　and　play　jackstraws　holdin'　up　

every　drive　in　the　river！　　I　tell　you　our　mills　need　logs；　and　

what's　more　they're　agoin'　to　GIT　them！〃



He　departed　in　a　rumble　of　vituperation。



Orde　laughed　humorously　at　his　foreman。



〃Johnson　gets　so　mad　sometimes；　his　skin　cracks；〃　he　remarked。　　

〃However；〃　he　went　on　more　seriously；　〃there's　a　heap　in　what　he　

means；　if　there　ain't　so　much　in　what　he　says。　　I'll　go　labour　with　

our　old　friend　below。〃



He　regained　the　bank；　stopped　to　light　his　pipe；　and　sauntered；　with　

every　appearance　of　leisure；　down　the　bank；　past　the　dam；　to　the　

mill　structure　below。



Here　he　found　the　owner　occupying　a　chair　tilted　back　against　the　

wall　of　the　building。　　His　ruffled　plug　hat　was　thrust；　as　usual；　

well　away　from　his　high　and　narrow　forehead；　the　long　broadcloth　

coat　fell　back　to　reveal　an　unbuttoned　waistcoat　the　flapping　black　

trousers　were　hitched　up　far　enough　to　display　woollen　socks　

wrinkled　about　bony　shanks。　　He　was　whittling　a　pine　stick；　which　he　

held　pointing　down　between　his　spread　knees；　and　conversing　

animatedly　with　a　young　fellow　occupying　another　chair　at　his　side。



〃And　there　comes　one　of　'em　now；〃　declaimed　the　old　man　

dramatically。



Orde　nodded　briefly　to　the　stranger；　and　came　at　once　to　business。



〃I　want　to　talk　this　matter　over　with　you；〃　he　began。　　〃We　aren't　

making　much　progress。　　We　can't　afford　to　hang　up　the　drive；　and　the　

water　is　going　down　every　day。　　We've　got　to　have　more　water。　　I'll　

tell　you　what　we'll　do：　If　you'll　let　us　cut　down　the　new　sill；　

we'll　replace　it　in　good　shape　when　we　get　all　our　logs　through。〃



〃No；　sir！〃　promptly　vetoed　the　old　man。



〃Well；　we'll　give　you　something　for　the　privilege。　　What　do　you　

think　is　fair？〃



〃I　tell　ye　I'll　give　you　your　legal　rights；　and　not　a　cent　more；〃　

replied　the　old　man；　still　quietly；　but　with　quivering　nostrils。



〃What　is　your　name？〃　asked　Orde。



〃My　name　is　Reed；　sir。〃



〃Well；　Mr。　Reed；　stop　and　think　what　this　means。　　It's　a　more　

serious　matter　than　you　think。　　In　a　little　while　the　water　will　be　

so　low　in　the　river　that　it　will　be　impossible　to　take　out　the　logs　

this　year。　　That　means　a　large　loss；　of　course；　as　you　know。〃



〃I　don't　know　nothin'　about　the　pesky　business；　and　I　don't　wan　to；〃　

snorted　Reed。



〃Well；　there's　borers；　for　one　thing；　to　spoil　a　good　many　of　the　

logs。　　And　think　what　it　will　mean　to　the　mills。　　No　logs　means　no　

lumber。　　That　is　bankruptcy　for　a　good　many　who　have　contracts　to　

fulfil。　　And　no　logs　means　the　mills　must　close。　　Thousands　of　men　

will　be　thrown　out　of　their　jobs；　and　a　good　many　of　them　will　go　

hungry。　　And　with　the　stream　full　of　the　old　cutting；　that　means　

less　to　do　next　winter　in　the　woodsmore　men　thrown　out。　　Getting　

out　a　season's　cut　with　the　flood…water　is　a　pretty　serious　matter　

to　a　great　many　people；　and　if　you　insist　on　holding　us　up　here　in　

this　slack　water　the　situation　will　soon　become　alarming。〃



〃Ye　finished？〃　demanded　Reed　grimly。



〃Yes；〃　replied　Orde。



The　old　man　cast　from　him　his　half…whittled　piece　of　pine。　　He　

closed　his　jack…knife　with　a　snap　and　thrust　it　in　his　pocket。　　He　

brought　to　earth　the　front　legs　of　his　chair　with　a　thump；　and　

jammed　his　ruffled　plug　hat　to　its　proper　place。



〃And　if　the　whole　kit　and　kaboodle　of　ye　starved　out…right；〃　said　

he；　〃it　would　but　be　the　fulfillin'　of　the　word　of　the　prophet　who　

says；　'So　will　I　send　upon　you　famine　and　evil　beasts；　and　they　

shall　bereave　thee；　and　pestilence　and　blood　shall　pass　through　

thee；　and　I　will　bring　the　sword　upon　thee。　　I　the　Lord　have　spoken　

it！'〃



〃That's　your　last　word？〃　inquired　Orde。



〃That's　my　last　word；　and　my　first。　　Ye　that　make　of　God's　smilin'　

land　waste　places　and　a　wilderness；　by　your　own　folly　shall　ye　

perish。〃



〃Good…day；〃　said　Orde；　whirling　on　his　heel　without　further　

argument。



The　young　man；　who　had　during　this　colloquy　sat　an　interested　and　

silent　spectator；　arose　and　joined　him。　　Orde　looked　at　his　new　

companion　a　little　curiously。　　lie　was　a　very　slender　young　man；　

taut…muscled；　taut…nerved；　but　impassive　in　demeanour。　　He　possessed　

a　shrewd；　thin　face；　steel…gray；　inscrutable　eyes　behind　glasses。　　

His　costume　was　quite　simply　an　old　gray　suit　of　business　clothes　

and　a　gray　felt　hat。　　At　the　moment　he　held　in　his　mouth　an　

unlighted　and　badly　chewed　cigar。



〃Nice；　amiable　old　party；〃　volunteered　Orde　with　a　chuckle。



〃Seems　to　be；〃　agreed　the　young　man　drily。



〃Well；　I　reckon　we'll　just　have　to　worry　along　without　him；〃　

remarked　Orde；　striking　his　steel　caulks　into　the　first　log　and　

preparing　t